Women's rights activist Sandra Fluke heads to Calif. general election

Sandra Fluke campaigns with President Obama in the 2012 election. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Sandra Fluke, the women’s rights activist who gave Rush Limbaugh heartburn, is one step closer to becoming an elected official in California.

Fluke finished second behind Ben Allen, a fellow Democrat, in Tuesday’s primary race for a state Senate seat in Southern California. They both advance to the Nov. 4 general election because of California’s unique primary rules in which the top two vote-getters move on regardless of party.

Fluke gained national fame in 2012 when Limbaugh called her a “slut” and a “prostitute” on his radio show for her support of President Obama’s health care law.

Then a Georgetown University law student, Fluke had been blocked by Republicans from testifying at a congressional hearing in support of contraceptive coverage by insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act. Limbaugh apologized for his choice of words after a huge outcry from Democrats and Republicans. Fluke went on to become a featured speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte and campaigned for Obama.

Allen and Fluke are seeking the state Senate seat of Ted Lieu, who is running for Congress in the district long held by liberal icon Henry Waxman. Lieu was clinging to second place in the 33rd Congressional District primary behind Elan Carr, a gang prosecutor and Republican.